Chapter 168: The Ultimate Network of Connections

As soon as Chai Jin left, Shen Jian could no longer maintain his pretentious demeanor.

Turning to Qiu Zhili, he asked, "Old Qiu, what kind of business is this fellow from the South in?"

"Judging by his composure, he doesn't seem like someone who deals in trivial matters, does he?"

Qiu Zhili glanced at him and said, "Brother Jian, we've been brothers for so many years. Please forgive me for speaking frankly, but you really should have handled yourself better just now."

"You genuinely should have accepted those few drinks Chai Jin offered."

"Do you know Mou Qizhong?"

Shen Jian's pupils constricted slightly. "Who doesn't know Big Cannon Mou?"

"Is he one of Big Cannon Mou's subordinates? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

At present, Mou Qizhong was constantly traveling and giving speeches everywhere. Much like Bu Xinsheng in the 1980s, he had become the brightest star of the 1990s.

With newspapers covering him everywhere, who wouldn't recognize him?

If Chai Jin was one of Mou Qizhong's subordinates, Shen Jian felt that he certainly had to show him respect.

With that, he began to lecture Qiu Zhili.

It all boiled down to one point: you should have given me a heads-up beforehand.

Seeing Shen Jian chatter on endlessly, Qiu Zhili wore a look of profound distress and hurriedly interrupted, "Brother Jian, you've got it wrong."

"He isn't one of Mou Qizhong's subordinates, but this brother from the South is running the exact same business as Mou Qizhong!"

"He already has over a dozen large flatbed trucks loaded with goods from the South driving toward our capital right now!"

"What is he looking for me for? He wants me to ask my old man to approve a dedicated freight train for his goods."

"You know Feng Haodong, right? Boss Mou's friend, the fellow known as the King of Southern Goods in China—Chai Jin was introduced through him."

Without thinking much, Qiu Zhili blurted out these words.

The previously raucous group of seven or eight people, who had been playing drinking games, suddenly fell into a dead silence.

They all stared blankly at Qiu Zhili, petrified, as if they had just heard an unbelievable truth.

As for Shen Jian, a dry, clicking sound came from his throat.

The airs he had been putting on shattered completely. He shrieked across the restaurant, "This brother is that incredible?! Have you checked him out?!"

...

Chai Jin slept exceptionally well that night.

However, he was woken up quite early by the noise of breakfast vendors in the hutong outside.

After tidying up the room, he took Ji Yuan out for breakfast.

A bowl of sweet bean curd paired with a deep-fried dough stick.

Sitting in the alleyway of the hutong, listening to the strains of Peking Opera drifting from some unknown source, and watching the crowds moving beneath mottled crimson walls alongside bicycles ringing their bells...

This worldly, mundane atmosphere was the most intoxicating of all.

Halfway through the meal, Feng Haodong called.

Over the phone, Feng inquired about Chai Jin's situation in the capital.

He even asked if Chai Jin needed him to put in a good word with anyone.

A wave of warmth washed over Chai Jin as he smiled and replied, "Brother Qiu and the others are all great people. There's no local hostility."

"I can handle things on my own. How is the situation over in Manzhouli?"

Feng Haodong answered, "I've set up a trading company here. In the future, I'll be inspecting unsalable goods in factories across the interior and hauling them over to the Soviets to trade for cash."

"Once you're done there, come over and I'll show you around my large warehouse."

In fact, Feng Haodong had been stationed in Manzhouli for nearly two years.

His strategic vision was far from small.

Other speculators at best merely coordinated train boxcars to ship goods across the border.

Feng Haodong, however, was orchestrating the collection and shipping of goods from factories nationwide.

That dedicated train actually had been secured through his own connections, but because his project was not yet completed, it couldn't be put into operation.

Combined with the urgency of Chai Jin's request, he had let Chai Jin use it first.

Chai Jin nodded. "You haven't invested in Mou Qizhong's project, have you?"

Chai Jin was still worried that Feng would dive headfirst into it. After all, that madman's mind seemed connected to satellites; whatever he did had to be on the grandest scale possible.

*I am discussing international jokes, don't you go bothering me with your trivial domestic matters.*

Feng Haodong laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I haven't gotten involved in his affairs. That guy has lured plenty of people in, and I heard he even went abroad a few days ago to talk about a satellite project with Bill Gates."

"I can't handle that kind of grand scheme."

Chai Jin smiled. "Are you coming back to Daohua Village for the New Year?"

"We'll see. My situation is different from yours—I have neither parents nor family, so going back doesn't hold much meaning."

...

The two chatted for a while longer before hanging up.

About ten minutes later, before the two of them had even stood up, Qiu Zhili walked over.

"I was wondering why you two weren't in the room. Turns out you sneaked out to grab food."

"Old Li, bring me two of your Hedong-style big baked flatbreads."

Qiu Zhili must have been very familiar with the vendor here, navigating the place with ease.

The boss responded from inside.

Chai Jin wiped his mouth and looked around. "This place is nice. It has the authentic flavor of the capital."

"Nice my foot. There are just more people now. Back in the day, our courtyard area was the worst—full of poor folks."

Qiu Zhili replied.

Chai Jin smiled and shook his head, making no comment.

In his heart, however, he wanted to say: given the location of this plot of land, in just a few decades, it would be worth at least one hundred thousand per square meter.

Old courtyard houses like this, inhabited by impoverished people for decades, which one of them wouldn't be worth over a hundred million?

Getting rich was just that simple.

Qiu Zhili took the flatbread from the boss's hand and said, "After you left yesterday, we had a late-night session."

"Brother Jian meant that he'll host dinner tonight, and he specifically sent me to let you know. You don't have any other plans for tonight, do you?"

Chai Jin raised his head in surprise. "Didn't Brother Jian barely pay any attention to me?"

"Why suddenly arrange dinner for me?"

Munching on his food, Qiu Zhili said, "Never mind his attitude; Brother Jian is just the kind of person who likes to put on airs."

"In reality, he has a much harder time than we do."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Chai Jin was exceptionally curious.

Qiu Zhili gave a brief explanation.

The gist of it was that Brother Jian's old man was the strictest kind of person.

Sometimes the rest of them could make a bit of money on the side, but Brother Jian couldn't—his family patriarch kept him on an extremely tight leash.

So in reality, Brother Jian was all facade and pretense, but actually poorer than a church mouse.

Furthermore, Shen Jian had been deeply affected by the news from the South and had already resigned from his work unit.

He had always wanted to leave the capital and break free from his father's control.

Yet, he hadn't found the right opportunity.

Then Chai Jin appeared, and he wanted to ask Chai Jin more about the South.

Chai Jin more or less understood what was going on.

After a pause, he brought up another topic: "What do you guys think of the proposal I made at the dinner table yesterday? Is anyone willing to join my side?"

This was what Chai Jin cared about the most.

Even if these people couldn't do anything, Chai Jin was willing to spend money to keep them on board.

After all, what he valued was the network of connections behind them.

Qiu Zhili thought for a moment and said, "This kind of thing isn't decided in the snap of a finger."

"Don't worry, let's help you pull off this venture first, and we'll talk then."

He took a sip of water, paused, and then asked curiously, "Chai Jin, if someone like me went over to your side, what kind of salary could you offer us?"

Chai Jin lit a cigarette and said, "How about two thousand for now? Because I'm not even sure if you guys would actually come over, and seeing you all in such dire straits, it was just a spur-of-the-moment idea—I didn't plan for it beforehand."

Hearing this, Qiu Zhili was struck dumb, staring at Chai Jin in utter speechlessness.